I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a new Ibis ( Been admiring them for so long, its finally time) and the very knowledgable salesman said they have been sizing them up a bit to get length in the cockpit but keep the stem on the short side. The standover is apparently so similar between the Med and Large that it is a non-issue.

I guess I am right on the fence between a Med being a little tight, and a Large being spacious.

Curious your recommendations or experience. Obviously it comes down to how it feels to me, but I have never bought a large frame before. I did test ride in the parking lot the regular Mojo in large and Med and I think the Large actually felt a little better.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
JC

01-25-2013

rossp

I'm almost the same size as you 5'9" with 30" inseam and have a large with a shortish stem. Have always ridden medium frames otherwise and the mojo SL feels great in large. medium was just too cramped.

01-25-2013

MD Sleep

Thanks

Thanks for the reply.

My main ride right now is a SC super light (23 ETT) with a 100mm stem. Love the bike but want something with a little more suspension and plushness as I am getting more into technical descents.

I guess a 23.7 ETT with a shorter stem makes sense if all things are fairly equal with a Med and Large.

My LBS seems to think the shorter stem brings out the best in the bike.

I love climbing and do pretty long rides with 25 ish miles and 3000K of climbing on the weekends so I am trying to hit that sweet spot between reasonably light nimble and efficient climber and a confident technical descender.

I am thinking the HD 140 might be the right bike and flexible for the future.

Looking forward to a sweet new ride.:thumbsup:

01-25-2013

d3toid

I'm 175cm a tiny fraction under 5'9" and I ride a medium HD with a 45cm stem and a setback dropper post. I have never tried a large but I think I would find the standover a
little bit close and because I come from a BMX background I usually select the smaller
size when a land in the middle of a sizing split. If you can have a test ride that is always the best option. I bought my first Mojo C in 2007 without a test ride and it has been a great
bike. I find the medium HD feels a little larger than the medium C. I have been riding the C
a bit more often latley with my more XC friends and even with light weight wheels it can still handle plenty of drops and jumps.

01-26-2013

nzl62

I am 5'10/11 and I float between a med and Large. I have longish legs. Wouldn't have thought you'd be on a large HD, maybe if it was an XC bike but I would have thought you'd be over biked on that size given what the hd is capable of

01-26-2013

tdotrider

I'm 6'0" with a 33.5" inseam and ride a large with a 70mm stem, I'd imagine at 5'8" you could easily fit a medium with enough comfort/stretch for XC and it will certainly be more nimble for you than a large...

01-26-2013

Salespunk

Where is Socal are you? I am in North County SD and you are welcome to throw a leg over mine. Have a few friends with HD's in OC/IE as well that I could probably set you up with.

My recommendation would be a medium and not a large.

BTW I would also not waste the money on a 140. There is no difference in climbing efficiency by going with the shorter travel bike so why limit it? If you lean more towards XC build it with a Fox 34/160 which will give you the weight advantage and a slightly steeper HA.

01-26-2013

MD Sleep

Thanks.

It really seems like the medium should fit right on. I guess I am used to a roomier cockpit coming from my older school of thought bike utilizing longer stems. It could simply be something that I need to get used to as well.

My other concern with the large is having enough room for a dropper post.

I am waiting for it to stop raining here so I can go demo both sizes and get the final verdict. I am also going to demo the SC TRc VPP bike just to make sure that I am getting on the right bike. According to the shop, the DW favors a little more of a leaned back type of decender and the VPP prefers a little more forward, moto style, decent. With my single pivot I tend to lean back with a lighter front end for really technical stuff, but I am not sure which I will prefer on the new rig.

Thanks again for the help and experience. At bikes in this price point you need to nail it and have no regrets.

01-26-2013

MD Sleep

Thanks for your kind offer

Salespunk,

I am in south county OC. I really appreciate the offer of trying your bike. I think I am going to just pay to demo them so that I don't put anyone out of their ride and I can really take a long ride to get the feel.

Super generous of you though and I thank you.

I ride the SJT fairly often, and want a bike that is all about that climb, the loop up top, and then going to Aliso to rip up Lynx, 5 Oaks, etc. I would call a bike like that a true "all arounder". It may be that the SL-R is really the bike I should get on. I am hoping a few demos will shake all this out.

Again thank you.

01-26-2013

straw

I'm 5'9" with a 31" inseam. I've demoed both the L and M hd. I had the chance to demo a M for two full days in Moab and absolutely loved it. The medium HD is my next bike. By the way the large just felt well too large):

01-26-2013

MD Sleep

Nice

From the replies, seems pretty obvious that I should be steering toward the medium.

To be totally fair to the LBS, they did not size me at a Large, but said that it was a reasonable to upsize these bikes if they feel too cramped with a short stem (which it kind of did to me). Other than a lot spin we did not get too far into dialing components in for a fit. I definitely trust their judgement, but appreciate the feedback from you riders.

01-26-2013

canuck_tacoma

Your LBS is right to steer you towrds the Large if you want a stem shorter than 70mm and want to XC it.

I'm 5'9" and ride a Medium HD. 80/90mm stem with 710mm bars feels good when doing a lot of XC riding. I have the seatpost almost max. It's by no means too stretched out.

I do prefer the feel of a 70mm stem with my 710mm bar for down hill, but it's a little short when doing long distances. I get too much weight on my seat and doesn't feel centered when pedaling...if you ride long distances then you will know what that feels like.

Next demo day I will be trying a Large HD with a 60mm stem. I'm curious if I will still weight the front end enough when climbing and if it feels too large overall. I've always wondered if I should have gotten the Large.

For now I will try the 70mm stem with a 750mm bar and see if that works well on the medium.

01-26-2013

derby

First impression I had jumping from my trusty 5-year old large Mojo C to a large HD with the same stem length, the HD felt about 1/2 to a full size larger in handling feel.

I had even posted a question to this forum to see if I should go to a smaller size, since I like a very nimble quick handling bike for my main interests in very twisty trail and very rocky slower conditions, and my first impression testing a large HD in a parking lot was that it turned more like a bus compared to my familiar Mojo C. But the recommendations from HD riders was to stay with the large size. And I quickly got used to the new bigger bike feel and the HD handled better in every condition, slow and technical and at faster speeds.

I think the combination of the more stable lower seated position from the slacker seat tube angle and the more stable slacker slower steering response gave the larger bike feeling.

I'm 6'0, 32" inseam, 34" arms, using a 70mm stem, 750mm bars, WTB seat centered to the post. For my interests the Large size HD is both stable and very nimble.

01-26-2013

d-bug

You should be on a medium.
I have both a L MojoC and L HD. Both with the same stem (Ibis 70mm), straight seat posts, wide bars (HD is a little wider 750 vs 725). Without a doubt, the MojoC feels larger than the HD. I ride the HD 90% of the time, when I hop on the MojoC I have to get use to a larger feeling cockpit. Don't be fooled by the longer TT measurement of the HD. There are different angles involved in SA and HT that changes things.

When I measure from the tip of my seat to the center of the handlebar I get 21" on MojoC and 20.5" on the HD. The effective TT on the HD is shorter in my case.

01-26-2013

MD Sleep

Thanks

Just got back from an epic ride with 3K of climbing and 25 ish miles. Always makes me want to go spend a bunch more money on bike stuff for some reason.:skep: must be the endorphin high.

If all the 6 foot guys are loving the larges then it has got to be a medium for me.

My big dilemma now is the HD or the SL-R. I am just not a guy who will ever put on a full face helmet and bomb big stuff or take a lift to go down. Keeps making me think that the HD is overkill for me. Being a very light rider (150) I do like light bikes and want this build to come in 27ish or less without getting into crazy, crazy money.

I appreciate the advice about skipping the HD 140 and getting a 160 if I go that route, but maybe a SL-R with 150 on front will kind of hit the sweet spot with weight, travel, geometry, climb, and decend.

Well, time for a post ride curry feast. Thanks again Ibisians for all your killer info and support. Great community of spoiled bikers. (Which I plan on joining)

01-26-2013

pastajet

Medium - I ride med and am 5'9" with 31" inseam and use a 70-80mm stem (like longish stems)

01-26-2013

saidrick

Pick either bike . They are both great trail bikes. I think the medium would do you right.

01-26-2013

d-bug

27lbs? Slr is the way to go. You can do it on an HD, but will probably have to suffer when it comes to tires and run a light small knobbed tire.
HD isn't designed for full face lift access. It's just such a versatile bike that it CAN handle those days.

You can't go wrong either way.

01-27-2013

Salespunk

I would say HD unless you are racing. The difference in weight is minimal for trail riding. If you like SJT the HD is the perfect bike. I do SJT and similar rides with 3K+ vert all the time as do my riding buddies. 9 HD's in that group and I have never heard a complaint about climbing ability.

01-27-2013

stejekyll

i'm 5'9" and have a 30" inseam, i've ordered a medium mojo hd frame due to the large frame having too long a seat tube for me to run my 125 ks lev seatpost, on the medium i have the option to drop the whole post roughly 1 inch if for example i get a saddle with taller rails or run really low profile flat pedals instead of spd's, the large was a bit too much of a stretch for my stumpy legs

01-27-2013

mazspeed

Im 5'10 and 32 and ride a med. I have ridden both med and large and the med was just more ridable for me. I would think the med would fit you so much better. Again try them again and get some good rides in and then choose. Coming down a technical hill will be the tell all.

01-27-2013

MD Sleep

Thanks again.

Thanks again for all the feedback. Medium is seeming pretty obvious at this point.

I think the statement that Salespunk stated pretty much sums up where I am at in terms of bike choice. Is this my fun weekend trail bike? Then HD. If this is the do all bike that may finally motivate me to do some endurance events (like I have been threatening to do for years now) then its the SLR. I agree that 1 - 1.5 lbs on the middle of the bike is really not a deal breaker and should not be too noticeable.

SJT is my favorite. It is my treat after a shitty week of work when I am able to get out of family duties and go ride it. I think it is the trail that I want this ride to fit the most. I thought with all the climbing that the SLR would be the better bike, but thanks for the direct experience on that trail with the HD.

I am going to digest all of this for a few days, but am thinking that the HD 160, medium with a 60 or 70 stem, 2 x10 with an upgraded wheel set, and a KS Lev might be that all around long day trail ride I am looking for.

Not to keep this thread going on and on, but when would you want a 34 fork? I am assuming that if my goal is to keep things light as possible then the 32 is the obvious choice. I have only had true cross country rigs up to now.

You guys have given me a lot to consider and have been a great help.

01-27-2013

Rb

You need to ride a medium.

01-28-2013

groundskeeperwilly

I'd say your on the borderline for large-if there is a chance to demo anywhere local that might give you a clear indicator.

01-28-2013

Salespunk

Only change I would make on the build is to go XX1 if you can. Gives you all the range of 2x with a simpler and lighter setup.

On the 32 vs. 34 you should go 34. The HD is so stiff it will be let down by the 32 as well as throwing off the geometry. Bike is an Enduro weapon with the 34.

01-28-2013

benja55

Do not put a 32 on the HD. Just don't. 34 or 36.

I'm 5'8" & ride a Med HD.

PURE PLEASURE.

01-29-2013

Kerberos

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salespunk

... go XX1 if you can. Gives you all the range of 2x with a simpler and lighter setup.

Well, I run a 2x setup 38/24 front and 11/36 rear. I definitely need this for longer uphills and XX1 just doesn't offer all the range. What I'm trying to say is, although I understand most of the advantages of XX1, its usefulness still depends on your riding style and landscape.

01-29-2013

Pesto

You can't appreciate the simplicity of 1x9/10 setup until you try it. Doesn't sound like much, but the fact you don't have to think about gear combinations is really liberating and you will ride in the zone much more..

I currently run 1x9 (32t front + 11/34t rear) on my HD and there are very few hills I can't climb. You would be surprised what you can do, once you don't have a granny as an excuse;) It also looks really cool;)

01-29-2013

MD Sleep

Yep XX1

I agree that XX1 is the ticket right now.

I have been riding my bikes 1x 9 for the last 5 years after I took a break from SS, and love it.

I have not looked into how the pricing on XX1 is vs say XT 2x10, but usually when new stuff comes out there is a heavy price tag to pay. I love Shimano drivetrains and am also super interested in the shadow derailers. Anything that reduces chain slap is a welcome upgrade.
May just go 1 x 10 if XX1 is too pricey, but I am looking for a couple more "blow up" gears over my 1 x 9, for longer efforts in the saddle.

Still going to stew over the frame choice though...just can't get the SLR off the table until I ride them.

Again thanks.

01-29-2013

MD Sleep

Clean setup

Nice 1 x setup. I use the MRP upper guide on my 1 x 9 setup, without the lower roller, and it works killer. Never drop a chain. I have also used a jump stop with a bash guard on my hardtail and it worked pretty well too.

I do love having less crap on the bars. That is the one thing I dread about getting a dropper post.

Thanks for the nice pic, and I do appreciate the simplicity and riding style of the 1x systems. Simplicity is what drew me so much to single speeding where you just get in the zone and make things happen through effort and form....but age is what drew me out of it and made me appreciate having some gears.

01-31-2013

Pesto

I broke off the lower guide in a crash recently and rode without it for a while, until the new came in. My chain was dropping all the time, sometimes it got back in place thanks to the upper guide, but often I had to stop and put the chain in place by hand. It was really annoying. Maybe it was because of the long derailleur cage and lower chain tension.. I want to switch to short cage 1x10 setup this spring.

01-31-2013

Salespunk

If you spend some time you can find XX1 for around $1K. It is by far the quietest system I have ever run and it replaced an XTR M980 1X system including a clutch RD. I am an XTR fanboy, but XX1 has converted me.

02-10-2013

MD Sleep

Update:...ordered!

Just and update as you were all nice enough to take time and help me out with my bike choice.

I rode a regular Mojo in medium and absolutely loved the bike. I personally like the fast handling of the steeper head angle and after feeling a fairly heavy demo under me realized that weight is important to me as well. SLR is the right frame. I found the mojo to be an outstanding climbing bike even out of the saddle mashing, and the DW is really a fantastic platform for eating up the small chatter and being smooth for the bigger hits. Totally sold on the ibis after the first hour in the saddle. I usually know right away if a bike is going to work for me or not, and I knew it very quickly with this one.

The medium was definitely on the small size for me. There was no room to spare in the cockpit with a 70mm on it and seat in neutral position on the rails. I also had a lot of seatpost showing to get the correct leg extension for climbing. I also felt a little to over the front and on top of the bike on the more technical downhill stuff. Fun, but not a perfect fit. I think I just fit bikes a little bigger in life than on paper. I am confident that the large is the right size now.

So I placed my order for a large SLR with a 150mm fork on it and full XX1 drivetrain. The more I looked into the XX1 and asked around, it seems like the perfect setup for my riding interests and the reviews have all been super positive from riders who have been using it first hand.

I am so stoked on ordering this dream bike. Thanks for all the input and suggestions and I will follow up with a ride report after I get some time on the bike.

:thumbsup:

02-10-2013

Trackho

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD Sleep

Just and update as you were all nice enough to take time and help me out with my bike choice.

I rode a regular Mojo in medium and absolutely loved the bike. I personally like the fast handling of the steeper head angle and after feeling a fairly heavy demo under me realized that weight is important to me as well. SLR is the right frame. I found the mojo to be an outstanding climbing bike even out of the saddle mashing, and the DW is really a fantastic platform for eating up the small chatter and being smooth for the bigger hits. Totally sold on the ibis after the first hour in the saddle. I usually know right away if a bike is going to work for me or not, and I knew it very quickly with this one.

The medium was definitely on the small size for me. There was no room to spare in the cockpit with a 70mm on it and seat in neutral position on the rails. I also had a lot of seatpost showing to get the correct leg extension for climbing. I also felt a little to over the front and on top of the bike on the more technical downhill stuff. Fun, but not a perfect fit. I think I just fit bikes a little bigger in life than on paper. I am confident that the large is the right size now.

So I placed my order for a large SLR with a 150mm fork on it and full XX1 drivetrain. The more I looked into the XX1 and asked around, it seems like the perfect setup for my riding interests and the reviews have all been super positive from riders who have been using it first hand.

I am so stoked on ordering this dream bike. Thanks for all the input and suggestions and I will follow up with a ride report after I get some time on the bike.

:thumbsup:

Same story as me, I'm 6" with long arms and the XL was the answer for an HD-started building it Today. Hopefully, I get my wheels next week

02-24-2013

MD Sleep

Got it!

Just to follow up with this thread.

Finally got my LARGE, SLR. Absolutely perfect fit with a 70mm stem. Amazing bike. I always appreciated the beautiful lines of the Mojo, but am totally hooked on the way this bike feels. I don't see any way I would have comfortably fit on the medium with less than a 100mm stem or my seat really far back. Strange..but it is what it is.

So anyone out there on the fence on what size to get...don't be surprised if you end up "sizing up" to get the right fit.

Thanks for all the help.

02-24-2013

pastajet

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD Sleep

Just to follow up with this thread.

Finally got my LARGE, SLR. Absolutely perfect fit with a 70mm stem. Amazing bike. I always appreciated the beautiful lines of the Mojo, but am totally hooked on the way this bike feels. I don't see any way I would have comfortably fit on the medium with less than a 100mm stem or my seat really far back. Strange..but it is what it is.

So anyone out there on the fence on what size to get...don't be surprised if you end up "sizing up" to get the right fit.

Thanks for all the help.

Except this was in regards to a medium HD not a med SLR. The TT is longer on the HD. Just a bit confused? I find at 5'9" the SL-R/Carbon/SL are a bit short for me.

02-25-2013

Rick Draper

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD Sleep

Just to follow up with this thread.

Finally got my LARGE, SLR. Absolutely perfect fit with a 70mm stem. Amazing bike. I always appreciated the beautiful lines of the Mojo, but am totally hooked on the way this bike feels. I don't see any way I would have comfortably fit on the medium with less than a 100mm stem or my seat really far back. Strange..but it is what it is.

So anyone out there on the fence on what size to get...don't be surprised if you end up "sizing up" to get the right fit.

Thanks for all the help.

I am 5'9" and ride a medium HD and a Large would be too big and I could not use a 125mm dropper.

I think what you have ended up with is basically a XC fit on a trailbike.

02-25-2013

MD Sleep

Definitely more cross country oriented.

Definitely true that my initial question was about the HD. Not confused.

I did end up changing my mind during the process after posting my initial question. And yes, I was leaning more to the cross country side for my mojo so it may be that is the fit I ended up with (hence the SLR over the HD). I do run a 125 dropper post.

I am still surprised that I would be on a large in any bike frame (which was the reason for my initial question here). The LBS actually did the sizing watching me ride an HD, not an SLR. That is what they reccomended for the HD as well, even if the TT is a little longer.

Anyway, I am of course not trying to tell anyone what to do, just passing on my experience, and thanking you all for giving me yours prior to my purchase.

02-25-2013

vikb

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD Sleep

Curious your recommendations or experience.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
JC

I bought an XL in a SC Nomad and rode it for years. It fit fine, but was on the big size for my 5'11" and 33" inseam. Similarly to the HD the standover between L and XL doesn't change much - just the TT and wheelbase.

I recently swapped in a L front triangle and if I was buying again I would buy the L not the XL.

You can overcome 1" of TT difference by swapping in a new stem, but there is nothing you can do about the longer wheelbase. The XL was stable, but not as manoeuvrable or playful as the L.

Most of us can fit on two different sized bikes with some tweaking, but their will be handling compromises involved.

02-26-2013

cabra cadabra

You already made your decision, but as another data point, I am 5'8" and 30 inseam and I ride a large HD 170 with 1 degree angelset and a 50mm stem. Chews up the techy stuff. I still have room on my Reverb to go down into the seat tube more. I was surprised that the large fit, but it just feels right to me.

02-26-2013

jon123

FWIW, Brian Lopes rides a large. He 5' 9".

02-27-2013

Lobanovskyy

Ups, I'm confused... I'm Spanish and we use other measures for the height, so I don't know the translation of 5'8", 5'9",... I don't know what do mean ' and " symbols.

My height is 1,83 metres and I'm gonna place an order of a Large HD with a 90 mm stem. Do you think I'm doing the correct? And what about if I change the stem to a shorter one, will I ride comfortable in the L size?

Or is a XL HD with a shorter stem the best option for me?

In the bikeshop, the storekeeper suggests me L size and I sent and e-mail to Ibis and they suggest me L size too...

02-27-2013

vikb

5' 8"= 5 foot + 8 inches = 5 x 30cm + 8 x 2.54cm = 170.3cm or 1.703m

1.83m = ~6'

Just as a ballpark I'd say a Large is a reasonable choice. I'd roll with what you dealer suggests as he can see you to evaluate your body. If Ibis is backing that up it seems like a solid recommendation.

02-27-2013

Pat-G

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobanovskyy

Ups, I'm confused... I'm Spanish and we use other measures for the height, so I don't know the translation of 5'8", 5'9",... I don't know what do mean ' and " symbols.

My height is 1,83 metres and I'm gonna place an order of a Large HD with a 90 mm stem. Do you think I'm doing the correct? And what about if I change the stem to a shorter one, will I ride comfortable in the L size?

Or is a XL HD with a shorter stem the best option for me?

In the bikeshop, the storekeeper suggests me L size and I sent and e-mail to Ibis and they suggest me L size too...